KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1980 Population: 253,000 (2013) GDP p.c. growth: 0.6% p.a. 1990–2013 UN HDI 2014: World ranking 131 Official languages: Bislama, English, French Time: GMT plus 11 hrs Currency: Vatu (Vt) Geography Area: 12,190 sq km Coastline: 2,530 km Capital: Port Vila The Republic of Vanuatu’s land area is made up of a group of islands in the south-west Pacific, lying south of Solomon Islands and east of the state of Queensland in Australia. The country comprises six provinces: Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea and Torba. Constitution Status: Republic Legislature: Parliament of Vanuatu Independence: 30 July 1980 Vanuatu is a republic with a non-executive presidency. The President is elected by parliament together with the presidents of the regional councils and serves a five-year term. The singlechamber parliament has 52 members, directly elected every four years by universal adult suffrage with an element of proportional representation. Parliament appoints the Prime Minister from among its members and the Prime Minister appoints a council of ministers from among the MPs. The constitution provides for a certain amount of decentralisation, intended to promote regional autonomy and local participation. In 1994 six provincial governments replaced the 11 local councils. The district councils of chiefs elect the National Council of Chiefs, which is consulted, and makes representations, on customary law and traditional factors affecting government. In October 2004 parliament passed constitutional amendments designed to reduce political instability. These amendments included banning no-confidence votes in the first and last 12-months of a parliamentary term and, after the first 12 months of a term, required a by-election in any constituency where the member crossed the floor. Before taking effect, these amendments were to be put to the electorate in a national referendum. Judicial system Supreme court: Supreme Court of Vanuatu Ministry: Justice and Social Welfare The legal system is based on English common law and French civil law. The judicial system comprises the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, magistrates courts, island courts and Customary Land Tribunal. The Supreme Court is presided over by the chief justice; it has jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases, and is the constitutional court. The magistrates courts have limited jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases. The island courts are presided over by chiefs and deal with questions of customary law, while the Customary Land Tribunal is concerned with land disputes. Judges are appointed by the President of the republic, on the advice of the Prime Minister and leader of the opposition (in respect of the chief justice), and of the Judicial Service Commission (other judges). Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2014/15 285 Vanuatu
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